Manufacturing & The Economy

New orders for manufactured goods in October, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.3 billion or 0.1% to $479.6 billion, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported. This followed a 1.7% September increase. Shipments, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $2.7 billion or 0.6% to $484.2 billion. This followed a 1.1% September increase. Unfilled orders, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,135.1 billion. This followed a 0.3% September increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.68, unchanged from September. Inventories, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.2% to $661.6 billion. This followed a 0.6% September increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.37, unchanged from September.